SURVIVAL MODE: Unpacking the DMM to Crack the Code of Trauma Strategies
Relational Practice: a social work podcastShow Notes
It's time for a radical reframe: stop seeing complex behaviours as "disorganization" and start recognizing them as brilliant strategies for survival.
This week, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive into the Dynamic-Maturational Model (DMM), an advanced attachment framework that explains how trauma forces the brain to adapt by strategically blocking information.
The DMM breaks self-protective strategies into two main categories: Type A (Cognitive) and Type C (Affective). Individuals using Type A learn to inhibit negative feelings, relying heavily on logic and habit, often appearing "cool and businesslike" to maintain safety. Conversely, those using Type C exaggerate their emotions and rely on affective signals, blocking out factual coherence, which can lead to volatility. These are not flaws; they are adaptive methods developed to survive danger.
Understanding the DMM's focus on information processing is a game-changer for clinical practice. Therapy guided by the DMM doesn't seek to eliminate behaviours, but to help clients realize their adaptive significance before introducing the missing information (feelings for Type A, facts for Type C). Learn how this model is also highly effective for risk assessment in child protection and legal settings, ensuring professionals make truly informed decisions. Don't just treat the symptoms; understand the strategy!
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For more information about DMM look at this webpage DMM Model - Family Relations Institute
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Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone
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